Prefabricated room cell in particular a bathroom

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated bathroom, called a room cell, for inserting in the shell of a building, and provided with a bath and/or hand bowl and a waste water pipe extending through the floor of the cell. The main object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated room cell, in particular a bathroom of the kind mentioned, which is light and easy to transport and which is able to withstand the pressure of superimposed room cells. The object aimed at has been achieved in that below the framework there is disposed a support frame provided with a floor plate and which during transport of the prefabricated room cell is releasably affixed to the base frame of the framework by threaded bolts, and on the building site is installed in the reversed position, i.e. with the floor plate uppermost on the framework, where it is then used as a casting mould.

United States Patent 72] Inventors Karl Tage Birger Eriksson Hagastigen, 1, S-660 01, Ed; Ernst Osten Reimer Eriksson, Angshogsvagen, 1, 8-660 01 Ed, both of Sweden 21 Appl.No. 828,472 [22] Filed May 28,1969 [45] Patented Jan.ll, 1972 [32] Priority July 11, 1968 [3 3] Sweden [3 l 9545/68 [54] PREFABRICATED ROOM CELL IN PARTICULAR 3,118,187 l/l 964 Alimanestiano 52/34 3,162,863 12/1964 Wokas 52/34 X 3,292,314 12/1966 Heise 52/126 X 3,380,205 4/1968 Ratchford 52/126 3,425,179 2/1969 Haroldson 52/126 X 2,712,863 7/1955 Busch 4/2 X 2,837,777 6/1958 52/27 3,367,072 2/1968 Waltz et al .1 52/173 X Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant ExaminerS. D. Burke, lll Attorney-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz ABSTRACT: A prefabricated bathroom, called a room cell, for inserting in the shell of a building, and provided with a bath and/or hand bowl and a waste water pipe extending through the floor of the cell. The main object ofthe invention is to provide a prefabricated room cell, in particular a bathroom of the kind mentioned, which is light and easy to transport and which is able to withstand the pressure of superimposed room cells. The object aimed at has been achieved in that below the framework there is disposed a support frame provided with a floor plate and which during transport of the prefabricated room cell is releasably affixed to the base frame of the framework by threaded bolts, and on the building site is installed in the reversed position, i.e. with the floor plate uppermost on the framework, where it is then used as a casting m ld-t SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a prefabricated bathroom, called a room cell, for inserting in the shell ofa building, and provided with a bath and/or hand bowl and a waste water pipe extending through the floor of the cell.

It is already known to form prefabricated concrete room cells fitted inter alia with a bath, hand bowl and water closet. Such a unit is however very heavy, making its transport to the building site and its installation in the building shell difficult. It has recently been proposed to provide the room cell with a metal framework so that its weight can be considerably reduced. Such room cells have been superimposed in the building shells. But in order for the lower cell to be able to withstand the pressure of the room cells superimposed on it, and this pressure can be very high in the case of buildings with or even more stories, the room cell framework must be made very strong by means of sectional beams lying relatively close together and a large number of struts extending vertically from these beams in the room cell walls. Such a building unit is thus also very heavy and expensive to manufacture.

More particularly the invention relates to the type room cells wherein the walls, the floor and the ceiling of the room cell consist of sectional beams connected (welded) together to form a framework.

The problem referred to above is solved by the present invention in that below the framework there is disposed a support frame provided with a floor plate and which during transport of the prefabricated room cell is releasably affixed to the base frame of the framework by threaded bolts, and on the building site is installed in the reversed position, i.e. with the floor plate uppermost on the framework, where it is then used as a casting mold.

Since during transport of the prefabricated room cell, e.g., a bathroom, to the building site, the support frame together with the floor plate is affixed to the floor of the bathroom, the waste pipe extending through this floor is well protected inside the support frame. W

After arrival at the building site, the room cell is raised somewhat by means of a crane and the support frame is removed together with the floor plate. After the room cell is installed in its allotted place, the support frame is reversed and placed on the room cell framework with its floor plate uppermost. A concrete arch can then be cast on this in the usual manner, with the said plate acting as a casting mold. The pressure applied by the weight of the upper room cell or cell on the cell or cells lying below is thus taken by the concrete arch, so that the iron framework of the room cell (of the bathroom) can be made relatively weak, which in turn means a low weight for the room cell itself. After the room cell has been installed in its allotted place in the building shell, the threaded bolts used to hold the support frame and the floor plate during transport of the room cell framework can be used for levelling purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prefabricated bathroom in accordance with the invention during its installation in the shell of a building;

FIG. 2 is a front view ofa corner ofthe room cell, to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2, but after installation of the bathroom in the place allotted to it;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section through the bathroom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The steel framework 1 of the bathroom comprises a base frame 2 with horizontal support beams 3, an upper frame 4 with horizontal beams 5 and a number of vertical columns 6,

with the corner columns 6' formin pairs of outwardly directed channels 7. The steel framewor IS also provided on both its interior and exterior with a suitable cladding 8, 9. As seen for instance from FIG. 4, the bathroom is fitted with a bath 10, a wash bowl 11, a WC seat 12 and an electrical point 13. Hot and cold water pipes l4, 15 lead to parts I0, 11, I2.

0 These pipes 14, 15 are, like the leads 16 to electrical point 13,

embedded in the bathroom walls. Waste pipe 17 extends downwards through the bathroom floor 18.

An internally threaded bush I9 is welded to the lower end of channel 7 on each corner column 6. Through this bush passes a threaded bolt 20 with a corresponding external thread, the lower end of the bolt being screwable into a bush 21 also with a suitable internal thread, said bush 21 being disposed at the corner of a support frame 22 provided with a floor plate 23.

During transport of the prefabricated bathroom to the building site, e.g., on a lorry, the waste pipe extending through the floor 18 is well protected. When the bathroom arrives at the building site it is suspended on the hook 24 of a lifting cable 25, raised up by a crane (not shown), and lowered on to the place 26 allotted to it on the previously made concrete foundation 27 of the building wherein the bathroom is to be installed. Before the room cell is lowered, however, the support frame 22 with the floor plate 23 is removed by unscrewing the bolts 20 from their corresponding bushes 21. The support frame 22 with its floor plate is then shifted sideways, and the room cell is deposited on the place 26 selected for it (FIG. 3). The room cell can then be levelled, i.e., brought to the correct height and level, with the aid of threaded bolts 20. The support frame 22 with the floor plate 23 is then reversed, i.e., put with the floor plate 23 uppermost (FIG. 3) on the steel framework 1, so that the bushes 21 engage in the channels 7 between the corner columns 6. In conjunction with the corner columns, the bushes 21 thus ensure satisfactory lateral adjustment. Plate 23 forms part of the casting mold used to cast a concrete beam on the installed room cell.

The invention may also be applied to room cells other than bathrooms, for example to a prefabricated toilet room with a washbowl and water closet only.

What we claim is:

l. A prefabricated bathroom for installation in a building shell including in combination a framework formed of sectional beams, a waste pipe beneath said framework and attached thereto, an exposed portion of said waste pipe, a support frame, a floor plate attached to said support frame, said support frame protecting said waste pipe in a first position of said support frame which is beneath said framework with said floor plate surrounding the exposed portion of said waste pipe, bolt means releasably affixing said support frame to said framework in said first position, said support frame capable of serving in a second position after installation above said framework to provide a casting mold for a load-supporting concrete vault, and means affixing said support frame to said framework when in said second position.

2. A prefabricated bathroom in accordance with claim 1 in which said bolt means includes first internally threaded bushings on said framework and second internally threaded bushings on said support frame and an externally threaded bolt having ends respectively received within bushings of said first and second bushings.

3. A prefabricated bathroom in accordance with claim 2 in which adjacent corner columns of said framework provide respective bushing-receiving channels and said support frame is inverted in said second position with respective second bushings within respective channels preventing lateral displacement of said support frame. 

1. A prefabricated bathroom for installation in a building shell including in combination a framework formed of sectional beams, a waste pipe beneath said framework and attached thereto, an exposed portion of said waste pipe, a support frame, a floor plate attached to said support frame, said support frame protecting said waste pipe in a first position of said support frame which is beneath said framework with said floor plate surrounding the exposed portion of said waste pipe, bolt means releasably affixing said support frame to said framework in said first position, said support frame capable of serving in a second position after installation above said framework to provide a casting mold for a load-supporting concrete vault, and means affixing said support frame to said framework when in said second position.
 2. A prefabricated bathroom in accordance with claim 1 in which said bolt means includes first internally threaded bushings on said framework and second internally threaded bushings on said support frame and an externally threaded bolt having ends respectively received within bushings of said first and second bushings.
 3. A prefabricated bathroom in accordance with claim 2 in which adjacent corner columns of said framework provide respective bushing-receiving channels and said support frame is inverted in said second position with respective second bushings within respective channels preventing lateral displacement of said support frame. 